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In 2003, the Faculty of Health & Behavioural Sciences at our university offered a series of postgraduate research seminars. The series of seminars, selected by a three-person faculty team, received a mixed reaction--some seminars attracted a large proportion of the students whereas others were poorly attended. Thus, it was decided to continue the seminar series in 2004, but to undertake some formative evaluation to determine the students' preferences for the seminar topics. It was important to gain input from as many students as possible, and to allow maximum latitude for responses. It was decided to conduct a two-stage evaluation process: nominal groups with a subset of postgraduate research students; followed by a survey of all students based on the groups. It was apparent from the results of this study that the students' preferences for seminar content were quite dissimilar to those anticipated by academic staff. This study demonstrates the advantages and disadvantages of the nominal group technique in investigating information and skill needs among postgraduate research students.

A study of the career development of men and women who began lectureships in Australian colleges and universities in behavioral sciences, education, humanities, and the social sciences in 1962-64 or 1975-76 revealed similar attrition and mobility rates for men and women, but more early promotion for men than women. (MSE)

Discusses the development of a minicourse approach in which three aspects of design and implementation are based on educational technology: a systems approach to curriculum development, application of behavioral theory, and stimulus response chains which are organized as linear sequences of input-process-output cycles linked by feedback loops. (Author/JEG)

In recent years a dramatic increase in enrollments of mature age students has occurred in courses of arts, social sciences, and humanities. The main objective of this study was to examine the predictive value of the age factor in the academic performance of behavioral science students at a regional college of advanced education in Australia. (SSH)

The book "Behavioural Public Policy in Australia: How an Idea Became Practice" by Sarah Ball explores the factors that contribute to the formation and implementation of innovative policies in Australia. Ball discusses the concept of behavioral insight and how it is understood and applied by practitioners and academics. The book also emphasizes the importance of evaluating government policies to ensure they benefit citizens. It provides insights into the origins and development of behavioral insights as a concept and showcases international cases of how practitioners in different countries apply behavioral insights. The book offers valuable knowledge for public administrators and can be used as a teaching tool in public administration courses. [Extracted from the article]

The analysis of international and collaborative publication trends in prominent behavior‐analytic journals has been a topic of interest for behavioral researchers. This paper focuses on publication trends from 1997 through 2020 in three prominent journals: Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (JEAB), Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA), and Perspectives on Behavior Science (PBS). The variable of interest was the percentage of articles published per geographical category—Australasia/East Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America, and Africa. The results showed that 79, 96, and 87% of the published articles in JEAB, JABA, and PBS, respectively, were conducted by researchers with a North American affiliation. Furthermore, 12, 4, and 4% of the articles in JEAB, JABA, and PBS, respectively, were coauthored by at least two researchers from different geographical categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avocado growers in Australia are currently experiencing long wait times for orchard-ready plants, limiting productivity and profitability. Tissue culture technology represents a faster and more efficient process of producing plants, offering a solution. However, the development of new growing technology comes with the inherent risk of industry nonacceptance and limited uptake, a costly problem for both innovators and industry. This study explored factors related to technology acceptance by the intended end-users of tissue culture technology within the avocado industry in Australia. The study provides key insights into the overall industry sentiment towards uptake and adoption of tissue-culture technology. An online survey was conducted with participants from the Australian avocado industry and demonstrated perceptions of tissue culture technology were generally positive and that, with appropriate extension services, adoption is predicted to be high across industry users. This paper contributes to the behavioural science of technology adoption by exploring perceived use and likely uptake prior to the broad extension strategies of a new technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore whether simple behavioural insights techniques can be successful for addressing a policy issue within one of society's more complex and difficult sectors: child protection. Child protection reporting practices in New South Wales, Australia, reveal that the public's primary response is to report to the statutory authority, who only deal with cases of the highest risk. As a result, a large volume of statutory resources are spent processing lower-risk reports that lead to no benefits for lower-risk families and slow down response times for families that require a statutory response most. Our goal was to reduce lower-risk reporting by encouraging alternative responses to these situations. To do this, we altered report feedback for cases deemed lower risk in order to make alternative responses more salient and we added a persuasive message framed as a gain or loss. We then examined subsequent reporting accuracy. We found that our trial was linked to a modest improvement in reporting accuracy, though the results may have been diluted by a spill-over effect. We discuss how facilitating a greater behavioural change likely requires multi-organization collaborations, extending the range of insights drawn from behavioural science and/or addressing issues from multiple angles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been the longstanding targets of racism and discrimination in Australia. This paper presents the findings of a systematic literature review designed to identify and synthesise the available evidence exploring these intergroup attitudes, and the factors that correlate with them. Searches were conducted in Medline, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, ProQuest Psychology Database and PsycINFO databases. Eligible studies were required to measure attitudes of non-Indigenous Australians towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Twenty studies met the eligibility criteria (n = 2,958). The results outlined: (a) the prevalence of negative attitudes, (b) attitudes were most commonly conceptualised as modern racism, and (c) that there are a range of factors that are associated with negativity towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The review outlined the relationship between attitudes towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and demographic, ideological, individual differences, and intergroup factors. This review highlights the need for continued research in this domain to inform appropriate prejudice reduction strategies. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face continued adversity, prejudice, and discrimination on their own land. This heightened propensity to be targeted for prejudice is a known social determinant of poorer health and wellbeing. Understanding racial attitudes towards this group is an imperative step in understanding and combating this health disparity. What this topic adds: There is a paucity of academic research exploring negativity towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples The limited quantity of evidence does establish a range of correlates with negative attitudes that can be clustered into four themes – demographic factors, ideological variables, individual differences factors, and intergroup factors. More research is warranted in this domain to further establish a body of evidence on intergroup attitudes towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with a renewed focus needed on prejudice reduction techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By characterising the parish community as existential territory, Francis sees it as a place of open dialogue that also includes life's questions and societal concerns beyond the parish's buildings. 17 Hence, the call for the pastoral conversion of the parish community has its theological and spiritual foundation in the Eucharist: 'The aforesaid missionary conversion, which naturally leads to a reform of structures concerns the Parish in particular, namely that community gathered around the Table of the Word and the Eucharist'. In spite of the recognition of the centrality of the Eucharist for the life of the parish community, the document nevertheless seems to downplay the importance of the sacrament of ordination: 'As a gift of God, being the church of the baptized and confirmed cannot therefore be increased further, not even through the sacrament of Ordination'. The priest is a servant of Christ, in the sense that his existence, configured to Christ ontologically, acquires an essentially relational character: he is in Christ, for Christ and with Christ, at the service of humankind. The interconnectedness of this threefold dimension of the parish community may be seen in the following table: Dimension Form Praxis Communio place of proximity experience of faith community Missio space of growth discovery/unfolding of possibilities Creatio place of development shared projects In line with Pope Francis' teaching, the instruction interprets the parish community as an "existential territory" journeying towards and gathering around the eucharistic place where communion is celebrated and a network of relationships is created. [Extracted from the article]

Background: This study aimed to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between socioeconomic position (SEP) and physical activity and sedentary behaviors amongst children and adolescents., Methods: Maternal education was reported by parents of 184 5-6 year-old and 358 10-12 year-old children in 2001. In 2001 and 2004, physical activity was assessed by accelerometry. Older children self-reported and parents of younger children proxy-reported physical activity and television (TV) viewing behaviors. Linear regression was used to predict physical activity and sedentary behaviors, and changes in these behaviors, from maternal education., Results: Among all children, accelerometer-determined and self/parent-reported moderate and vigorous physical activity declined over three years. Girls of higher SEP demonstrated greater decreases in TV viewing behaviours than those of low SEP. In general, no prospective associations were evident between SEP and objectively-assessed physical activity. A small number of prospective associations were noted between SEP and self-reported physical activity, but these were generally weak and inconsistent in direction., Conclusions: This study did not find strong evidence that maternal education was cross-sectionally or longitudinally predictive of children's physical activity or sedentary behaviors. Given the well-documented inverse relationship of SEP with physical activity levels in adult samples, findings suggest that such disparities may emerge after adolescence.

This paper describes a team development program conducted for Nursing Supervisors and Nursing Executives in a Melbourne teaching hospital. It provides a detailed account of (i) the concepts which guided the formulation and conduct of the program and (ii) the processes which were used to maximise the possibilities for change and foster a joint commitment to dealing with problems in the Nursing Department. The program achieved greater understanding and clarity regarding work roles, improved cohesion and teamwork at the supervisory and executive level and a shift towards a more participative style of management within the department.